[Album] Composer Maurice Jarre Dies, Aged 84

French composer Maurice Jarre, best known for his music on classic Hollywood films, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 84.

Jarre, who had been suffering from cancer, rose to prominence relatively late in life. His breakthrough came in 1962 when he wrote the score for Lawrence of Arabia, for he was awarded an Oscar. He won two further Oscars for Doctor Zhivago and A Passage to India, and composed music for more than 150 films.

His scores enhanced the work of some of the film industry's greatest directors - among others David Lean, Alfred Hitchcock, John Huston and Luchino Visconti.

He also wrote symphonic music for theatre, ballet and television, including the 1970s mini-series Jesus of Nazarath. Jarre, who moved to the US in the 1960s, was married four times and is the father of Jean-Michel Jarre, a pioneer of electronic music.

One of his final public appearances was at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, where he received a lifetime achievement award. At the time, festival director Dieter Kosslick paid tribute to Jarre saying: "Film composers often are in the shadows of great directors and acting stars. "It's different with Maurice Jarre - the music of Doctor Zhivago, like much of his work, is world-famous and remains unforgettable in cinema history."

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Film composer Maurice Jarre dies

Other well-known works include Witness, Ryan's Daughter, Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, Ghost, The Mosquito Coast, Crossed Swords, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Professionals and The Longest Day.

Jam it back in, in the dark.